Eton/Harrow/Winchester

[Jimmy]

How so? Better facilities for sports and recreation ?

As Eton own the lake used for rowing at the 2012 Olympics, I don't think there'd be much doubt about it.

 

[Erichalfbee]

One tip I might proffer.
If you are not one of those posh types then don’t send your kids there. They will have a hard time of it.

 

[StephenT]

How so? Better facilities for sports and recreation ?

It’s just a different world in terms of wealth, tradition, resources, attitude, class, teaching, dress code, buildings, facilities, networking, accent. And other things.

 

[user 20297]

One tip I might proffer.
If you are not one of those posh types then don’t send your kids there. They will have a hard time of it.

Access to thart type of school is self-limited for most of us and self-propagated for "those posh types"

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It’s just a different world in terms of wealth, tradition, resources, attitude, class, teaching, dress code, buildings, facilities, networking, accent. And other things.

A breeding ground for the next generation of social parasites

 

[Boston Bees]

A breeding ground for the next generation of social parasites

True.

One of my proudest achievements is to have become a social parasite while only ever attending state schools.

 

[CaptainCymru]

From what I've read Winchester is more focused on academia rather than social status,of course I could be ,and probably am wrong. I'd rather give the young one a shot at the title, I didnt get the opportunity, it was the merchant navy school of being worked to death whilst surviving on rice and meat that was labelled "suitable for convicts and seafarers only". Rather than saving my entire life for a porche or ranger over I'd rather spunk it on education.

 

[CaptainCymru]

One tip I might proffer.
If you are not one of those posh types then don’t send your kids there. They will have a hard time of it.

They will be toughened up before they go , think marine cadets.

 

[Erichalfbee]

They will be toughened up before they go , think marine cadets.

Your choice...of course but something to be mindful of. I'm not sure that's enough to make up for social status.
As an aside.....I often wonder why people have children just to parcel them off to some godforsaken boarding school to fight for themselves.
My first husband was a day boy, on scholarship to Rugby where they turned him into a very unpleasant man.
I sent my daughter to a minor private school in Hampton in middlesex. I wish I hadn't some times....but at least she was home every night.

 

[W0otz]

Perhaps not quite the same cachet, but have you had a look at Christ's Hospital? Certainly full fees are high, but there are substantial means-tested bursaries available meaning you get pupils from a very wide range of backgrounds - not just the "posh types".

https://www.tatler.com/school/christs-hospital-tatler-school-guide

 

[CaptainCymru]

Perhaps not quite the same cachet, but have you had a look at Christ's Hospital? Certainly full fees are high, but there are substantial means-tested bursaries available meaning you get pupils from a very wide range of backgrounds - not just the "posh types".

https://www.tatler.com/school/christs-hospital-tatler-school-guide

Your choice...of course but something to be mindful of. I'm not sure that's enough to make up for social status.
As an aside.....I often wonder why people have children just to parcel them off to some godforsaken boarding school to fight for themselves.
My first husband was a day boy, on scholarship to Rugby where they turned him into a very unpleasant man.
I sent my daughter to a minor private school in Hampton in middlesex. I wish I hadn't some times....but at least she was home every night.

I meet unpleasant people from all walks of life , rude , aggressive , and ill mannered.There will be normal kids there ,Eton offer up to 100% bursary , Winchester states 20% of students are on bursary.Parcel them off …….I was only intending it for 6th form to be honest as a finishing prep before university but if the offer was there with bursary for the full lot yeah I’d take it. I wouldn’t want my children to experience the education I got in Wales that’s for sure, but that’s another story.

 

[CaptainCymru]

Perhaps not quite the same cachet, but have you had a look at Christ's Hospital? Certainly full fees are high, but there are substantial means-tested bursaries available meaning you get pupils from a very wide range of backgrounds - not just the "posh types".

https://www.tatler.com/school/christs-hospital-tatler-school-guide

thank you I will check that out.

 

[pargyle]

thank you I will check that out.

My three children all went to independent schools locally as day pupils... the local secondary education shed had an absolutely diabolical reputation and we made the decision to move the boys at 7 years old and 9 years old into the local prep school. Our daughter went straight in to the private sector when she started school. The all went on to different independent secondary schools (not as boarders).

They all did well.... they were relatively quiet children and the smaller classes (12 rather than 36 in a class) obviously helped. I can't fault the education they got ... whether they would have done as well in the state sector I don't know. I went to a state grammar school, my father and aunts were all state school teachers and head teachers - they were pretty scathing about our decision to go private but eventually came to terms with it.

It cost a King's ransom but we did without the flash holidays and the like that our disposable income would have provided. Would I do it again ? Not sure, I think, to some extent it would depend on whether the local schools were up together. My son in law is a VP of a state secondary school and I see nothing but good things where they are and my grandchildren are in the state system and doing well. Do I think that private education creates a 'type' of person without a social conscience and a care for the rest of the world ? Cerrtainly not ... Do I think that the parents of some children create and encourage their offspring to be socially inept and uncaring - undoubtedly - but from what I saw within the private education my kids got, if anything, it actually imbued them with values and a consideration of the privilege they enjoyed.

It wasn't Eton, Harrow or Winchester - so I can't comment on what they are like. We chose the schools for the 'feel' of them when we visited and if I have any advice to give then it's go and look, ask questions. absorb the atmosphere, the culture and the ethos and make sure that the pastoral side of education meets your children's needs ... if you can afford it then it's an option to be explored - but do it for the right reasons and not for the name over the door.

 

[user 6127]

As Eton own the lake used for rowing at the 2012 Olympics, I don't think there'd be much doubt about it.

The sports facilities are second to none.

Dorney Lake was built by, is owned by, and managed by the college. Look it up on Google to see the scale of it. Most of the land North of Windsor, and South of Slough is college land (except Dorney Reach where the rich and famous live).

Eton is well worth a visit, even from the outside. It's a village in its own right, but it is a different world.

 

[drdrday]

There's a lot that kids can learn, from a social point of view, in your 'average' comprehensive, the value of which I don't think should be overlooked. Two years I spent at my local high school, from 11 to 13 were some of the best of my education from the point of view of interacting with a wide range of different personalities, but also in learning the real value of education, and my own responsibility in ensuring I got the most out of it.
The teaching at the selective grammar I moved on to at 13 was great as you'd expect, but I really noticed the narrowing in the demographic of my peers.
The red brick university I went on to gave a great balance between learning and the socialising/mixing with a wide range of people that I think can be just as important, but I found moving on to Cambridge for a further degree to be a huge culture shock in comparison. Many of the undergrads I helped to support/teach, particularly those that came from private schools, had an expectation to be spoon-fed just what they needed, and less motivation to learn independently. I am of course generalising, no two schools, whether state or private are the same, but these are my overall observations. I'm also well aware that I've undoubtedly benefitted from selective schools, albeit academically selective, rather than monetarily.

Above all, you know your own children best, so should be able to judge what would benefit them the most. Some children can thrive in a boisterous school environment, whilst others might do better with a more managed environment. Just be aware that a more selective school has its pluses (better teaching/facilities), but you can lose out in other areas.

 

[CaptainCymru]

Thank you all for your replies and sharing your experiences. A small independent day school may be the way to go for the first few years and evaluate it from there , if I see good things then onto one of the bigger schools for finishing up.

 

[PeaBee]

My sister in laws ex went to Eton on a bursary and hated it and was undoubtedly damaged by the bullying and abuse he received from the playing customers. I think if you are not the "type" fitting in could be hard.

 

[CaptainCymru]

My sister in laws ex went to Eton on a bursary and hated it and was undoubtedly damaged by the bullying and abuse he received from the playing customers. I think if you are not the "type" fitting in could be hard.

Would you say that it helped his career , issues aside?

 

[PeaBee]

Would you say that it helped his career , issues aside?

Nope not at all.

 

[Boston Bees]

Would you say that it helped his career , issues aside?

Just be a bit wary of thinking that these schools are the guarantee of a high flying career that they once no doubt were.

With the drive towards diversity, levelling up etc, universities and employers are trying to look elsewhere than these places if they possibly can.

Of course, if a child excels at these schools no doubt they will find universities and jobs easy to get. But I suspect that absolutely the last thing you want to be in the university or jobs application market at the moment is an average-performing white student from a well-known public school.

I might be wrong though.